Winter 2018 Skerne and Wansford parish newsletter

Battle's Over - the parish tribute

Pte Parker's great great nephew, Martin Parker who unveiled the flag. Below, members of Henry Parker's extended family.

Toby Bates who played the pipes both at the remembrance service and the beacon bonfire.

The centenary of the Great War Armistice was commemorated with services both at Skerne and Wansford churches. The Wansford Service of Remembrance incorporated the blessing of the Union Flag which dressed the coffin of Great War soldier Pte Henry Parker, who was killed in action in September 1916 at the Battle of the Somme and was buried with full military honours in May 2017 at the Warlencourt British Cemetery, the Somme, France. In the evening a beacon bonfire was held at Lilleygarth Farm, Skerne, when at 7pm it was one of 1000s lit countrywide to the pealing of church bells. For more about the Henry Parker story, click here

Meanwhile in a foreign field in France...

As we in Skerne and Wansford commemorated the Great War Armistice centenary, villagers at Warlencourt-Eaucourt, The Somme, France were also marking the event. Below is the account that the Skerne and Wansford Parish Council has received from France about the Warlencourt-Eaucourt tribute.

'It was a very emotional ceremony to commemorate the Armistice of 1918. We began in the village at 6pm with a speech from Lucien,our mayor, on the Armistice 1918, then the reading out of the names of the war dead by the children, followed by the laying of bouquets of flowers on behalf of the Souvenir Français equivalent to the British Legion and on behalf of the village then the playing of the national anthems of Britain and France by a band from Vaulx Vraucourt , a nearby village.

Then we all went in two buses to the Warlencourt British Cemetery which was lit up by 65 candles: Henry Parker had one to himself. After the mayor gave a speech about the sacrifice made by the soldiers buried there, flowers and a poppy wreath were placed at the foot of the Great Cross.

Then after the playing of the French and British National anthems, it was back on the bus and on to the Butte de Warlencourt, where after a speech again by Lucien and readings by the children, more flowers and another poppy wreath were laid . This time three national anthems were played -the German,the French and the British. Then to finish off we had the children release blue ,white and red helium filled balloons to which had been attached messages written by the children and once everybody was down on the flat there was a short fireworks display which really pleased both adults and children.

In our part of south Artois the lighting of candles in all our local military cemeteries was part of what was called La Grande Veillée and involved 23000 candles and the 274 military cemeteries which are to be found here .It was quite wonderful to see and be a part of! By the way we got back to the village hall just after 8pm..Hope you are all well in Skerne and Wansford parish council

Pictures taken at dawn at the Warlencourt British Cemetery, France on November 11 2018.

136 service - new timetable from September 3 2018

East Yorkshire Motor Services will take over the 136 Driffield to Bridlington bus service on September 3 2018. There will be no change to the service, The thrice-daily service has been run by Bus King. It services Wansford, North Frodingham and Beeford as well as several coastal villages. For a timetable click here or see the village noticeboard

The Emergency Plan for Skerne and Wansford has now been compiled and a copy of it can be found in the Policies and Procedures section of this website. If you have any special skills or equipment you feel able to offer the community in the event of an emergency, please call on or contact the parish council clerk, using the contact form above, or any parish councillor.

Village Hall coffee mornings

Weekly coffee mornings usually take place in Wansford Village Hall each Wednesday in aid of the hall refurbishment fund. The cost is £1 and all members of the Skerne and Wansford community are welcome to attend as well as passers-by and visitors.